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Beluga mountain in Altai. Mount Belukha on the map of Russia, Gorny Altai

Mount Belukha in the Altai Mountains: description, photo, video

On the map of Russia there are several toponyms "Belukha" at once - this is a mountain peak, a river, a natural monument, and an island. This article will talk about the top. Belukha is a sacred place for many peoples of Altai. The mountain is even represented on the state symbols of the Republic. Locals call it "Uch-Sumer", which means "Three-headed peak". Indeed, if you look at Mount Belukha and its photo, you can see several peaks. As an orographic object, it consists of two pointed pyramid-shaped peaks, between which there is a saddle with two slopes.

The absolute height of the Belukha is 4506 meters. The first official mention of the mountain dates back to the 18th century, and the first traveler who attempted to conquer it was the Briton Samuel Turner. However, he did not succeed, only 10 years later, in 1914, the pioneers stepped on a non-criminal peak. The beginning of scientific research in the vicinity of Belukha Mountain in Altai dates back to the 19th century, when the famous naturalist F. Gebbler investigated the local flora, and also discovered the Barelsky and Katunsky glaciers. He was also the very first to try to measure the height of the peak. According to his goniometer, it should have been 3362 meters.

60 years after Gebbler, Professor V. Sapozhnikov tried to find out the height of Belukha. His calculations turned out to be more accurate, but still he was wrong. The final height was set in 1948, but in 2012, in the course of new research, it was found that the mountain is 3 meters higher than previously thought. Now both 4506 and 4509 meters are indicated on the maps. The Altai mountain range is very unstable and small earthquakes are not uncommon here. They, in turn, provoke avalanches and avalanches.





Mount Belukha in the Altai Mountains is the place where the largest number of glaciers accumulate in the region. Today, 169 various glaciers are known on its territory. are the source of many rivers that flow into the Katun River. All of them are distinguished by fast streams and an abundance of cascades. There are also several picturesque lakes here. The flora and fauna of the region is diverse and unique.

Where is Mount Belukha

As already mentioned, this mountain is the highest point of the Altai Mountains. And more specifically, where Mount Belukha is located, then it is located on the Katunsky ridge, which has a length of more than 150 kilometers. From the point of view of the administrative structure, Belukha is concentrated on the border of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, in the place where the Katun begins its course. In Russia, the peak is concentrated in the Republic of Altai, in the Ust-Koksinsky region.

Mount Belukha on the map:

Distance of Belukha mountain from settlements:

  • Tungur village - 50 kilometers;
  • the city of Barnaul - 596 kilometers.

Mount Belukha coordinates on the map:

  • Latitude - 49°48'26.7
  • Longitude - 86°34'53.5

How to get to Belukha mountain

The starting point for most travelers is Barnaul, and the final point is the village of Tungur. The rest of the journey must be done on foot or on horseback. If planned independent travel, then you can ask the locals for directions, there are also signs on the hiking trail.

How to get to Belukha Mountain by public transport:

Barnaul can be reached by railway. From the administrative center of the Altai Territory, you should take a bus to the city of Gorno-Altaisk, it departs from the bus station located on Kosmichesky Prospekt. Gorno-Altaysk is the nearest city to the mountain peak, from here you can get to the village of Tungur by bus or taxi.

By car, Belukha Mountain can be reached by going in the same direction. In order not to get lost, you can enter the coordinates of Belukha Mountain into the navigator.

When is the best time to visit Belukha Mountain in Altai?

When traveling to Mount Belukha, it is important to consider the weather in the first place. The climate here is very harsh. Winters are long and cold - temperatures can easily drop to -30 degrees Celsius. Accordingly, the summer is short, cool and with a large amount of precipitation. On the mountain itself, even in June and July, the air temperature can be below -15 degrees.

Actually, to make the trip as comfortable as possible, it is worth coming in the summer, which lasts here until the end of August. For those who are looking for extreme sports and are not afraid of cold and snow, Mount Belukha"open" throughout the year. Before the trip, you need to carefully prepare. There may be problems with mobile communications. Be sure to stock up on warm clothes, food and equipment.

Attraction Features

On Mount Belukha, rest is pleasant and varied. In the vicinity there are a large number of tourist bases and complexes, estates and guest houses. There is also a health complex with antler baths and maralniks. For those who do not want to huddle in a village, house or hotel room, there is an opportunity to stay in a tent. Almost everywhere you can make a fire, fry meat or vegetables, and majestic landscapes only contribute to appetite.

If you are interested in climbing mountains, then we have a couple of very interesting materials for you. Read about the pearl of the Caucasus - which is 5,642 meters above sea level. Or about a long-extinct volcano - which rises to 5,033 m.

At some bases, you can order additional services such as rafting, speleological tours, climbing Belukha and much more. There are several tourist routes to the surroundings of the mountain and to its top. The most popular and easiest one runs from the village of Tungur to the foot of the mountain range. It is worth noting that Belukha is located in the border area, so you must have a passport with you.

Travelers from other countries need to obtain permission in advance at the Gorno-Altai representative office of the FSB. It will also be needed for other citizens if the trip is planned in a 5-kilometer zone to the Russian-Kazakh border. To the very top of Belukha, the easiest route runs from the south, and the most difficult one, requiring climbing equipment and relevant experience, from the north along the Akkem glacier.

What to see in the surroundings

Mount Belukha can be visited not only by climbers and extreme sports enthusiasts, but also by travelers who want to touch the cultural heritage, nature and history of the Altai region. One of the most mystical corners of the Altai Mountains is the Yarlu Valley. Bright shades of local forests, rare flowers and huge walls of rocks can surprise anyone. Near the shaman stone you can often meet people doing meditation.

Another popular place for mystics is Lake Akkem. By the way, back the name of the reservoir sounds like "Mecca", for which it is often called prophetic. The lake is located on the north side of the mountain. Most of all, tourists are attracted by the opportunity to see and photograph the reflection of the mountain peak.

On the way to Akkem, you can admire the highest waterfall in the region. It is called Tekelyu, and its height is 60 meters. Denisova cave is also an interesting sight. More than 20 cultural layers were found on its territory. The road to the village of Tungur runs through the Gromotukhinsky and Kyrlyksky passes. They offer unsurpassed views of the valley and green taiga forests. True, the roads here are narrow, so it is better to put an experienced driver behind the wheel.

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Geology

mountain range Beluga whales are composed of Middle and Upper Cambrian rocks. Many spurs of the massif are outcrops of sandstones and shales. Less common are conglomerates. Part of the massif is composed of typical flysch-like formations. Faults, cracks and thrusts of rocks testify to the tectonic instability of the territory of Belukha. Steep, almost sheer slip zones are characteristic of the northern slope of Belukha, especially from the side of the river valley. Akkem.

The Belukha region is located on the border of zones of 7-8 magnitude seismic activity. Micro-earthquakes are very frequent here. Their consequences are the breaking of the ice shell, the descent of avalanches and landslides. Since the Paleogene, the territory has experienced intense tectonic uplift, which continues to this day.

The Paleogene uplift is reflected in the nature of the relief - it is everywhere high-mountainous, typically alpine, with deep gorges, vertical alpine ridges rise up to 2500 m above them. Large areas of the massif are occupied by rocks, talus and moraines. The slopes are subject to the destructive effects of mudflows and avalanches. Belukha is a museum of a wide variety of geomorphological processes and landforms.

Climate

The climate of the Belukha region is severe with long cold winters and short summers with rains and snowfalls. It changes, in accordance with altitudinal zoning, from the climate of the valleys - at the foot of the summit to the climate of high snows and glaciers. Instrumental observations are carried out by two stations - the Akkem Meteorological Station and the Karatyurek Meteorological Station, located respectively at absolute heights of 2050 and 2600 m. Near the Gebler Glacier, on the southern slope of Belukha, the Katun meteorological station previously operated. The average temperature in July in the valleys at the upper border of the forest is 8.3 degrees C (Akkem weather station), and on plateau-like peaks 6.3 degrees C (Karatyurek weather station). In summer, on the top of Belukha, frosts down to -20 degrees C are not rare.

In winter, negative air temperatures are observed in January to -48 degrees C and remain low even in March to -5 degrees C. Temperature inversions are widespread. According to A. M. Komlev and Yu. V. Titova, the norm of annual precipitation for the Akkem Meteorological Station and the Karatyurek Meteorological Station is 512-533 mm. Solid precipitation falls at an altitude of 3000-3200 m, and their annual value is 35-50 percent of the total. In the nival-glacial zone of Belukha, more than 1000 mm of precipitation falls annually. Mountain-valley winds and foehns are common here.

Glaciers

On the slopes of the Belukha massif and in the valleys, 169 glaciers are known, with a total area of ​​150 square kilometers, Mount Belukha bears almost 50% of the glaciers of the Katunsky ridge, which is over 60% of its glaciation area. By the number of glaciers and glaciation, Belukha takes first place on the Katunsky ridge. M. V. Tronov singled out the Belukhinsky glacier region as an independent “type of Belukha glaciers”. It is characterized by: the high position of the feeding basins, the steepness of the firn streams, the low position of the tongues of glaciers that fill the bed of deep river valleys, and the tight junction with the slopes of the peaks. 6 large glaciers are concentrated here, among them the Sapozhnikov glacier - one of the largest in Altai - 10.5 km long, with an area of ​​13.2 square kilometers, as well as the Big and Small Berel glaciers, 10 and 8 km long and with an area of ​​12.5 and 8.9 km² respectively.

For Belukha, as for other centers of glaciation, large differences in the area of ​​glaciation between the slopes of the northern and southern exposures are not typical. This is compensated, due to the regime of matter turnover, by greater fallout and more intense melting on the southern slope, less precipitation and greater shading of the opposite slope. The speed of ice movement varies and on average varies from 30 to 50 m per year. The highest one was recorded on the Brothers Tronovy glacier, at the foot of the icefall it is 120 m per year. The accumulation of snow on steep slopes leads to avalanches. Belukha is one of the intense avalanche regions of Altai.

Rivers and lakes

R. Kucherla flows into Lake Kucherlinskoye.

The Belukha Rivers belong mainly to the basin of the Katun River, which flows from the southern slope of the Gebler Glacier. The rivers Kucherla, Akkem, Idygem also originate here. The Belaya Berel River drains the southeastern slope and belongs to the Bukhtarma River basin. Water streams born near the Belukha glaciers form a special Altai type of rivers. The melt waters of glaciers and snows take part in the feeding of the rivers; rainfall is of little importance.

The rivers are characterized by maximum flow in summer and low in the rest of the year. Rivers are fast-flowing, often forming waterfalls. beautiful waterfall The placer is located on the river of the same name, the right tributary of the Katun.

Birds are much more diverse. From hunting and fishing: white and tundra partridge. Of the passerines live: chough, alpine jackdaw, Himalayan hawker. The Siberian mountain finches and the exotic juniper grosbeak are much less common. Of the species listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Altai, there are large lentils, golden eagles, Altai snowcock.

environmental protection

Extreme sports and tourism

  • The first information about Belukha dates back to the end of the 18th century.
  • Belukha is being studied by the doctor of medicine F. Gebler, who undertook an eye measurement of its height. Gebler collected a collection of medicinal plants, discovered the Katun and Berel glaciers.
  • - the first climbers, the Tronov brothers, made the first ascent of Belukha in the history of mountaineering.
  • In August 2003 Dmitry Shchitov made an extreme downhill skiing from the mark of 4506 meters, the descent lasted about two hours.

Today in the Belukha area there are popular hiking, horseback and climbing tourist routes known both in Russia and abroad. The easiest way to climb the top of V. Belukha is from the south, category 3A, a little more difficult - from the Tomsk sites through the Delone pass and the Mensu glacier (category 3A), even more difficult - through the top of Delaunay. The fastest, but most difficult and dangerous option is to climb Belukha along the Akkem wall, category 3B tourist, 4A-4B climbing.

Belukha is the border with Kazakhstan.

On the shore of Lake Akkemskoye there is a camp site "Belukha", where the search and rescue service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry is located. Rescuers from Gorno-Altaisk and Barnaul are on duty in the summer for three shifts a month. The first shift is from mid-June to mid-July, the second from mid-July to mid-August, the third from mid-August to mid-September. Downstream of the Akkem River is the upper camp of the Vysotnik camp site.

Gallery

see also

Notes

Literature

  • // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
  • A. N. Romanov. "Journey to Belukha". Barnaul, 2002

Mount Belukha is the highest point of the Katunsky ridge and the highest point of Siberia. Mount Belukha is one of the natural attractions of the Ust-Koksinsky district of Gorny Altai.

The mountain has two peaks, which are in the form of irregular pyramids - Western (4435 m) and Eastern (4506 m). Between the peaks there is a depression - the Belukha saddle, whose height is 4000 m. The peaks of the mountain, together with the peaks of the Crown of Altai and Delaunay located on the right and left, form the Akkem wall, almost vertically falling down in the direction of the Akkem glacier. All glaciers are quite large, from 2 sq. km to 10 sq. km.

The name "Belukha" was given to the mountain by the Russians because of the large snow cover on the peaks. Locals still call her Muzdu-Tuu, which means "ice mountain".

The first person to measure the height of the mountain in 1835 was the naturalist, doctor and traveler F. Gebler. Thanks to the goniometric device, Gebler was able to measure the height of the Belukha peaks relative to the Belaya Berelya River and estimate it at about 3361 m. In 1895, V. Sapozhnikov, a professor at Tomsk University, made an attempt to measure the height of the peak. According to his measurements, the eastern peak of Belukha was 4542 m. The next person to measure in 1935 was climber-instructor D. Gushchin, then a new, completely unexpected result was obtained - 4630 m.

The mountain range of Mount Belukha is composed of Upper and Middle Cambrian rocks. Numerous cracks, faults and thrusts of rocks testify to the tectonic instability of the mountain. Micro-earthquakes are quite common here.

The Belukhinsky massif is characterized by variegation of vegetation. According to many researchers, most of the ridge is part of the Katun high-mountain region, where a huge variety of forest and high-mountain formations is concentrated. Small mammals can be found here: tundra shrew, red-gray, red-backed and big-eared voles. On the right bank of the Katun river live the zokor and the Altai mouse.

In 1978, Belukha Mountain received the status of a natural monument of the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Region, and since 1998 it has been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites "Altai - Golden Mountains".

Mount Belukha is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places and one of the world's natural treasures located on the map of Russia. Reaching 4509 meters in height, it is the highest point of the Altai Mountains.

The mountain got its name for a luxurious, snow-covered peak. The Altaians called it "Katyn-Bash", which means "the source of the Katun" or "Ak-Su-Ryu" - "White water". The inhabitants of Kyrgyzstan gave it the name "Mouss-Du-Tau", which translates as "Ice Mountain". Its sacred name is "Uch Sure" or "home of the gods".

Thanks to its amazing energy, Belukha has become a sacred place in the Altai Mountains, not only for local residents, but also for hundreds of people who visit this place every year.

Mount Belukha on the map of Russia is located in the Republic of Altai (Ust-Koksinsky district), close to the Russian-Kazakh border.

Coordinates:

  • 49°48′25″ north latitude.
  • 86°35′23″ East.

You can get to Belukha:

  1. public transport : Barnaul - Gorno-Altaisk - Tungur. In order to get to Barnaul, it is easier and more comfortable to use the train. Then get to Gorno-Altaisk by bus. From there, either by bus or by taxi to the village of Tungur, from which there is a hiking trail and signs to the mountain.
  2. By car: Chuisky tract - Seminsky pass - Ust-Koksa - Tungur. After the Seminsky Pass at the crossroads, you need to turn right at the sign for Ust-Koksa. The village of Tungur is located 60 km from it.

The emergence and development of Mount Belukha

Mount Belukha is formed by sandstone and shale of the Cambrian period and volcanic deposits of the Devonian period. During the Cambrian - about 520 million years ago - the modern territory of Mount Belukha was a shallow sea with underwater active volcanoes, due to the action of which rocks from quartz, chalcedony and other minerals appeared.

At this time, the first uplift of the rock in the zone of the Katunsky ridge above sea level and the formation of deep faults occurred. 460 million years ago, this area again sank under water in order to begin its rise to the surface in the Ordovician period (420 million years ago), while the Katunsky ridge was greatly modified under the influence of water currents.

The uplift of the rock took place over millions of years, and in the Devonian period (360 million years ago), troughs with deposits of carbonate and volcanic rocks continued to form along the ridge. In the Mesozoic period (70-225 million years ago), the terrain was actively developing: under the influence of tectonic movements, wind and water, the rock was transferred to lower areas of the terrain and accumulated there.

In general, the area looked like valleys with hills of various sizes scattered over them and resembled a modern Kazakh hill country.

1 million years ago, tectonic movements began along deep faults, which led to the uplift of the rock to different levels of height, and horsts and grabens appeared in recently relatively flat valleys, one of which was the Katunsky ridge.

The uplift of the rock continued for centuries, and was accompanied by a large glaciation of the area. The activity of glaciers led to the emergence of moraines, troughs and cirques and strongly influenced the formation of modern mountainous relief. To date, the territory of Mount Belukha remains seismically active, tremors periodically occur, which continue to change the relief of this area.

The history of the study of Mount Belukha

The first description of the mountain was made in 1793 in the notes of P.I. Shangin, who relied on the stories of local residents. In 1833 F.V. Gebler, a doctor working at the Kolyvano-Voskresensky factories, organized a campaign to confirm the rumors about glaciers in this area.

During his journey, he found an ice stream, the source of the Katun, saw a mountain and even climbed the Katun glacier, which received a second name in honor of him - the Gebler glacier. It was F.V. Gebler, on the basis of his studies of Mount Belukha, mapped the features of its terrain on the map of Russia. In 1880, the mountain was visited by N.M. Yadrintsev, a famous scientist who specialized in the study of Altai.

A great contribution to the study of Mount Belukha was made by a professor and a good climber Sapozhnikov V.V. In 1895, his first journey took place, during which he managed to climb to a height of 2860 m. In 1897, the second expedition ended with a return from a height of 3000 m.

Sapozhnikov V.V. approached the mountain from different sides and recorded 4 large glaciers, 9 medium ones and many hanging ones. His third voyage took place in 1898. As a result, he managed to climb the saddle of the mountain along the Katunsky glacier. In 1914, after three unsuccessful attempts, the Tronov brothers became the first to reach the eastern peak of Belukha.

In the same year, the expedition of N.V. Novikov and A.V. Lepekhin, after which the study of the mountain was suspended for the duration of the revolution. After the revolution, researchers from Tomsk and Novosibirsk began to work on the mountain.

In 1924 in New York, N.K. Roerich, together with like-minded people, formed the Belukha Corporation, which was engaged in research, the search for ores and minerals, the creation of energy and transport routes, real estate and the development of agriculture and business in the area of ​​Belukha Mountain. Thirty thousand shares were sold.

In 1926, the corporation reached an agreement with the Soviet government, but since work did not begin until 1929, it lost the right to them. In 1925, the first tourists came to Belukha. 19 people, among whom were doctors, civil servants, teachers and students, studied the Gebler glacier for one day.

In 1926 and 1927 attempts were made to climb the mountain, but expeditions did not reach the summit. In 1932, based on the research of the expedition of O.A. Alekin, two meteorological stations were created on the mountain - Akkem and Katun.

The history of the conquest of Mount Belukha

With the advent of Soviet power, climbers repeatedly made trips to Mount Belukha. Already in 1933, three expeditions to the top of Belukha were undertaken. During the West Siberian Alpiniad in 1935, 83 people climbed the mountain. In the same year, the authorities held the first Siberian Olympiad on Belukha. This led to the fact that mountaineering in the Altai Mountains began to develop.

In July 1936, climbers conquered the western peak, many photographs were taken, the height of the peak and neighboring mountains was recorded. Climbers made their travels in an almost unceasing stream, which led to the opening in 1937 of the camp of the Tourist and Excursion Administration headed by M. Billevich. He worked almost around the clock for several months.

During this period, more than two hundred people climbed to the top of the mountain. By 1939, a rescue center for climbers was organized on the northern slope of the mountain, providing equipment for rent. When the Second World War came to the territory of the Soviet Union, the campaigns against Belukha stopped and were resumed only in 1952.

In 1953, three hikes took place, led by E.L. Kazakova, during one of them a route was opened to both peaks of Belukha through the Sapozhnikov (Mensu) glacier. Since 1983, foreign climbers from the USA, Austria, Italy and other countries have been climbing the mountain.

Over the past 60 years, dozens of ascents have been made to Belukha, new routes and terrain features have been discovered. Today, climbing the mountain is organized annually for tourists and climbers of any level of training.

Topography of Mount Belukha

Mount Belukha is the highest point of the Katunsky ridge, formed at the junction of it and three small narrow ridges - spurs. The approximate area of ​​the mountain is 50 sq. km along the snow line, and 230 sq. km along the borders of large glaciers.

The mountain has two peaks:

  • Western(4435 m);
  • Eastern(4509 m).

Mount Belukha has two peaks.

Mount Belukha was indicated on the map of Russia with the height of the eastern peak at 4506 m, but modern scientific achievements make it possible to measure the height of the mountain to almost centimeters. In 2012, an expedition sent to clarify the height of Belukha recorded the highest point of the eastern peak - 4509 m. The peaks are connected by a slightly concave depression (4000 m) - the Belukha Saddle.

The relief of Mount Belukha is of two origins:

  • erosional;
  • accumulative.

Erosion relief forms are expressed by the presence of ridges, carats and troughs. Accumulative landforms are represented by moving and deposited moraines.

The climate of Belukha mountain

There are two weather stations on the mountain:

  • Akkem station(2050 m);
  • station Karatyurek(2600 m).

The climate in this area is extremely severe: the winter is long, with frequent rains and snowfalls. It changes depending on the height. At the foot and in the wooded part of the mountain it is noticeably warmer than at its top. Akkem station (2050 m.) recorded the average July temperature at +8.3 °C. Karatyurek station (2600 m) set the average ambient temperature in July at +6.3 °С.

At the top of the mountain, even in summer, the temperature drops to -20 °C.

In winter, the lowest temperatures are typical for January, when the frost is -48 °C. Until March, the temperature remains negative, on average in March it is observed up to -5 °C. Significant temperature fluctuations often occur. The most successful period for visiting the mountain in terms of weather conditions are the summer months.

According to the Akkem meteorological station, the weather is favorable for tourists in August and September - 17 days with good weather per month. There are practically no frosts at night.

According to the Karatyurek weather station, in July and August, the largest number of days with favorable weather is 14 days a month. September is no longer so successful, as snow falls at an altitude of over 2600 m and the temperature drops sharply at night. With height, there is generally a decrease in the number of recorded days with favorable weather.

During the year, the number of weather-friendly days is:

  • at the foot - 128 days a year;
  • at an altitude of 2050 m - 86 days;
  • at an altitude of 2600 m - 56 days;
  • at an altitude of 3900 m - they are not at all.

On average, every 100 m of altitude gained reduces the number of days with good weather by 4.2 days. During the year, the norm of precipitation is 510-530 mm of precipitation. On the upper snowy part of the mountain, precipitation falls only in the form of snow, their amount reaches 1000 mm per year. The highlands are also characterized by winds and foehns.

Hydrology of Mount Belukha

Mount Belukha on the map of Russia is characterized by hydrological diversity. There are many glaciers on its territory. More than half of the glaciers of the Katunsky Range are located on Belukha. In total, about one hundred and sixty glaciers were recorded, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich is more than one hundred and fifty square kilometers, of which six are the largest.

Including:


At the beginning of the 20th century, these two parts lost their unity with each other and today they are officially two separate glaciers. Climbing the mountain on this glacier is extremely difficult, as it has very steep side streams. There are cracks. The rest of the glaciers on the mountain are also large. The speed of ice movement reaches 50 m per year.

On the Kucherlinsky glacier, the speed of ice movement is the highest and is 120 m per year. Avalanches are possible on Mount Belukha. Most of the rivers of Mount Belukha enter the Katun basin. The largest is the Katun, which originates on the Gebler glacier. The sources of the Akkem and Kucherla rivers are also located there. The Mensu glacier gives rise to the Mensu and Idygem rivers. The source of the Belaya Berel River is located on the Berel Glacier.

These rivers are replenished by melting ice and therefore they are the most full-flowing in summer, and the rest of the river flow is not so intense.

This regime of rivers even received a separate name - "Altai type". They are characterized by transience and frequent waterfalls. Lakes also appeared due to the activity of glaciers, only ancient ones. The largest of them are Lake Akkemskoye and Kucherlinskoye. The depth of Lake Akkem is about 8 m, the water temperature in it does not rise above 5 ° C, and there is no fish.

Kucherlinskoye Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Altai Territory, which is home to grayling and, more recently, rainbow trout.

Flora and fauna of Belukha mountain

The flora of Mount Belukha is divided into two main zones:

  1. up to 2000 m– on the eastern slope up to 2200 m – forest belt;
  2. from 2000 to 3000 m- Alpine (alpine) zone.

Between them there is a subalpine belt, but it is difficult to distinguish it, since the terrain is too diverse. The forest belt in the lower part has an almost park-like appearance and consists of larch and birch, hawthorn and mountain ash are common. The undergrowth includes wild rose, bird cherry, meadowsweet, acacia and geranium are often found. Birch grows no higher than 1500 m, aspen still grows at this height.

Above 1500 m, larch and cedar are more common with a developed cover of moss. Wild rosemary, meadowsweet, rhododendron and other shrubs grow.

As the height increases, the forest of larch and cedar smoothly turns into dark coniferous forests - cedar-fir forests, the undergrowth of which consists of yellow acacia and honeysuckle. Fruit and berry bushes are widespread - raspberries and currants, which is why at the end of summer the forest is amazingly beautiful and plays with a variety of colors.

On the northern slopes in the forests of cedar and fir, badan often grows in a continuous carpet. The upper boundary of the forest belt is represented by cedar.

Separate larch and cedar trees grow at an altitude of 2150 m and above, they have characteristic shapes:

  • larch has no top;
  • the cedar crown looks like a flag - all branches are on one side;
  • both larch and cedar have a squat shape, sometimes creeping.

At an altitude of 2000 - 2200 m, the forest zone turns into alpine meadows with their dense, carpet-like grass cover and bright colors. In addition to them, various types of cobresia, Mongolian feather grass and alpine cornflower are widely used. Alpine hornedwort and Altai fescue are often found.

In mountain meadows, brightly colored plants are often found: orange bathing suit, bluish aquigelia, white anemone, raspberry kopek and violets. Blue snakehead and buttercups are common. The middle part of the Alpine belt is represented by moss-lichen tundra (lichens with moss), turning into rubble-lichen (lichens on stones).

The upper part of the Alpine belt is a stony tundra with oxalis, Altai buttercup and other characteristic plants, which at about 3000 meters passes into the zone of eternal snow. The fauna of Mount Belukha is extremely diverse. Bears, wolves and moose live in these places.

Their distribution has characteristic features:

  • wolves and bears live even at high altitudes, on glaciers or close to them, which is usually uncharacteristic for them;
  • moose are found in rocky areas, for example, in the area of ​​​​the Katunsky ridge, which is also surprising, since the rocks in the ground complicate their movement.

Red deer (marals) and Siberian mountain goats (tau-teke or teke) are common on the northern slopes, sables and minks are also found. In the vicinity of the mountain there are many pikas (another name is haystacks), squirrels and chipmunks, and a lot of Altai marmots.

Birds characteristic of the taiga are common: hazel grouse, partridge, snowcock (large mountain turkey). Due to the many cedar forests, populations of nutcrackers have become widespread. The terrain is mountainous, the fish world is rather poor: the Katun is inhabited mainly by grayling, a fish from the salmon family, which lives mainly in mountain rivers.


climbing routes

Since its opening, Belukha Mountain has been visited by dozens of expeditions, climbers and even ordinary tourists.

Dozens of routes of different categories of difficulty were opened:


The movement begins between the eastern peak of Belukha and Delaunay peak and continues along ice flows, then along a belt of rocks. The route is extremely difficult, requires serious skills and is not safe, since the ice is thin, and ice axes are the main safety tool.

In addition to those indicated, there are a number of climbing routes for climbing Mount Belukha.

On the map of Russia there are many beautiful, amazing and mysterious places, natural treasures, which are the heritage of the whole world. Belukha Mountain occupies a special place among them, attracting the attention of hundreds of tourists and climbers with its beauty and history, and, at the same time, dangerous.

Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about Mount Belukha

International expedition to Mount Belukha:

In Biysk, after the bridge over the Biya, we drive straight ahead without turning anywhere. Behind Biysk, the historical part of the Chuisky tract will begin. The road is excellent asphalt, and immediately after Biysk there is a 4-lane road. True, not for long, after 20 km it will become an ordinary two-lane, but still of excellent quality. Approximately 150 km after Biysk, there will be a fork in front of the village of Ust-Sema. We leave along the main right along the M-52 highway to Tashanta. We cross the Katun on a new bridge. We rise to the Seminsky pass. Although this is the highest pass on the Chuisky tract, technically it is not difficult, it can be easily overcome by any car at any time of the year. The pavement on the pass, as well as on the entire Chuisky tract, is excellent asphalt. After the descent from Seminsky, there will be a fork. The Chuysky tract goes straight ahead. We need to turn right following the signs to Ust-Koksa and Ust-Kan. After 90 km the village of Ust-Kan. After another 110 km - Ust-Koksa. After Ust-Koksa, the Uimon steppe begins. After 60 km there will be the village of Tungur.

IMPORTANT! A trip to the foot of Belukha Mountain and to the sights closest to it is a very serious event for an unprepared tourist! If you are a beginner and have never been to these parts, be sure to join an organized tour group, take an experienced tourist instructor or guide with you. The entire route passes through a deserted highland area remote from civilization. The length of the route will be more than 100 km along rugged high-mountainous terrain, which is more than 6 days of autonomous existence in the wild. There is no cell service throughout the entire journey. The group should include mentally and physically prepared people. I strongly recommend not to take children under 12 years old with you.

The village of Tungur is the starting point of all hiking or horse trails. Here you can easily find many proposals for organizing trips to Mount Belukha, both on foot and on horseback.

You can hire horses to carry your things and walk light. You can organize a fully equestrian trip with a guide and instructor. If you have never sat in the saddle, at the base, you will get the basic knowledge of moving on a horse and will be able to practice a little.

It is better to book a place on a hike before a trip to Gorny Altai. There are many travel companies that do this.

A tour to the foot of Belukha usually includes a visit to Lake Akkem, Kucherlinskoye Lake, the Valley of Seven Lakes, Lake Darashkol and other interesting places.

The route to the lake itself has several options, but there are two main ones. The first is from Tungur through the Kuzuyak pass to the valley of the Akkem river, then upstream the Akkem to Lake Akkemsky, then to the Akkemsky glacier. The second option is from Tungur upstream of the Kucherla river, then through the Karatyurek pass (3060 m) to the Akkem river valley and Akkem lake. Most often, a ring tour is organized with an ascent along the Akkem River, and a descent along the Kucherla River, thanks to this, you can see many interesting sights in one trip.

IMPORTANT! Be sure to take warm clothes on the trip. The Karatyurek pass (3060 m) can be covered with snow even in summer, it can often snow or even a heavy snowstorm. Also unforgettable are personal hygiene products, sprays and ointments from mosquitoes and ticks, as well as a first aid kit with basic medicines.

On average, 10-20 km are covered per day, depending on conditions. Overnight stay is organized at convenient sites along the route. The food lies entirely on you, cook yourself - eat yourself :-)

Despite such a long and difficult route, the tour to the foot of Belukha is one of the most interesting tours in the Altai Mountains. Having passed it, you can confidently say that you have been to Altai!